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Review 3 of 3
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I just wanted to share a happy rant about my experience with a new pair of VSM MMe's. I've been into serious hi-fi (and a music lover) for many years and I just didn't think speakers could change a system this much.
There are no Merlin dealers over here and I originally came across VSMs back in 2004, when my boss (an American working in the UK) was planning to move back to the US and convinced me to buy his VSM SEs. I took a bit of persuading, as I loved my KEF Reference Model 2.2s. But the SEs were in a different league to my KEFs - shockingly un-coloured, much more detailed but sweet and very spacious with great soundstage.
In terms of making music sound like music, the SEs made my KEFs look silly. They played so much more of what was going on - atmosphere, space, emotion. And this was the first time I had ever heard bass that truly played tunes - remarkably deep for relatively small speakers and unfeasibly tight, fast and controlled. So I was hooked.
OK, back to the present. After reading a lot about how much VSMs had moved on since the SEs, I took the plunge and ordered a new pair of MMe's (MMe's rather than MMx's as I have solid state amps). When they arrived, I knew they would need burning in, but the difference over the old SEs was dramatic even in the first hour. Much bigger, weightier sound, wider, more detailed, and so, so sweet.
I now have well over 300 hours on the speakers and they have improved enormously on what I was hearing in the first week. I should add here that I listen to an unusually wide range of music: from classical through Jazz, singer-songwriter, folk, pop, electronic, dance, R&B and hip-hop. If there are good musicians behind the music, I usually like it.
The MMes seem to break all the rules by sounding breathtakingly detailed and airy, while also sounding incredibly sweet. Words really just don’t do the sound justice – I’ve heard top-end Spendor electrostatics and the MMes are right up there for delicacy and air. And if it's your thing, the soundstage is about 30% wider and much deeper. Now it's a believable place that's with you in the room, not just some impressive hi-fi artefact
You know that over-used hi-fi mag phrase about speakers disappearing? When the music plays, the MMe's really do just disappear. The music has nothing to do with the speakers - it's just there in the room. Wall to wall, 3-dimensional and palpable.
But it's what MME's do for music, rather than hi-fi, that really strikes me after living with them for a few weeks. Music I know well suddenly has a new piano line, plain as day. And it's not just any old piano line, but piano being played with incredible emotion that just wasn't there before. Same goes for a favourite vocal at the beginning of a song - now there's a second voice quietly harmonizing, and very beautifully. I always thought you had to change your front end to get these kinds of changes.
I've always loved listening to the voices of talented female singers and, where the SEs were already remarkable, the MMe's take texture emotion and 'there-ness' to new levels. This is the kind of texture that is touchable and addictive.
I was told to expect deeper and more tuneful bass. It turns out this was a big understatement. Yes, the bass really is deeper, bigger, more tuneful and controlled than before, but now my system has rhythm and drive that it never had (I always thought my ageing CD player was the problem here). Suddenly, music makes sense as music - it all hangs together rhythmically and in every other way. It just sounds right and it makes you smile.
As for bass extension, there's a lot of talk online about a slight lack of weight at the bottom end. I'm probably using very different amps to most VSM owners, where fine valve amps are common. I use two big Meridian 557 amps running bridged mono and I guess they may play a part in this, with practically endless current and control. In my system the MMes go deeper than they should – very deep indeed and with absolute weight and conviction. This is all the scale I could want.
Anyway, time to stop ranting and sign off. If you have an older set of VSMs, get them upgraded! Or just take the plunge and buy the latest version. These speakers tick all the 'Hi-Fi' check boxes, but it's the way they play music that will make you happy and keep you up late at night. Strengths:
The MMes produce simply Incredible levels of detail, while remaining unfailingly sweet and 'organic' sounding. In fact, you would describe the texture of the sound as being like vinyl.
Transparency, delicacy, space, air and soundstaging are beyond comparison with any speaker I have heard.
The unique mix of detail, transparency and sweetness with big dynamics make for a sound which is utterly real and palpable.
The Merlins just make music sound like music: rythmic, excitcing, emotional and utterly engaging. Music, music, music ... Weaknesses:
Some people talk about some lack of ultimate weight and impact in the very low bass. My experience in a room about 5m x 5m x 3m high with my system is that the bass has un-matched speed, tunefulness and control and that it goes very deep indeed, by any standards.
This might be down to the amps I use (two Meridian 557s running bridged mono) which can churn out endless current with absolute control, while not spoiling the party. My system is also very well set up in terms of mechanical isolation and accoustic vibration damping. I use Townshend's Seismic Sink stand and I have Vertex AQ (UK brand) Kinabalu platforms and cones under all electronics.
In my room with my system, there is simply no shortage of scale, impact and depth with the MMe's.
If you have a large listening room and smaller amps, you may want to look at adding a high quality sub, but understand first the sheer quality and musicality of bass that the MMes are capable of producing in a good system before you think about that. Similar Products Used:
KEF Reference Model 2.2 and 203/2
Merlin VSM SE (old version of current VSM MMe)
Many other good speakers over the years!
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